5 things to know about Germany's diesel ban case

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Cars drive on a high way through the city of Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. A German court decides today on whether to allow a ban on diesel cars in cities to lower air pollution, a move that could have drastic consequences for the country's powerful auto industry.(Photo: Markus Schreiber, AP)

LEIPZIG, Germany — Germany's Federal Administrative Court ruled Tuesday that cities can ban diesel cars to lower air pollution. The decision could affect millions of drivers in Germany and have significant repercussions for the country's auto industry.

Here are five things to know about the case:

What's the problem?

The air in many German cities is worse than the law allows, contributing to respiratory illnesses and thousands of deaths annually.

According to government figures, some 6,000 people die prematurely each year in the country because of excessive levels of harmful nitrogen oxides, or NOx.

About 60% of NOx comes from the transportation sector, especially diesel vehicles — an alternative to regular gas that's particularly popular in Europe.

Measurements show that the threshold of 40 micrograms of NOx per cubic meter is regularly surpassed in dozens of German cities including Munich, Stuttgart and Cologne.

Is this linked to the VW emissions scandal?

Environmental campaigners have been demanding action on air pollution for years, but the revelations about carmakers cheating on diesel emissions tests have stoked the political debate in Germany.

Diesel, once considered a 'cleaner' fuel because it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, is now being scrutinized by environmentalists, government agencies, the media and the courts.

Andreas Korbmacher, presiding judge at the Federal Administrative Court, center, opens a trial in the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. German media report that a court has ruled cities can impose driving bans on diesel cars to combat air pollution. The ruling Tuesday could see millions of drivers forced to leave their cars at home on days when harmful emissions are particularly high. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)(Photo: Jens Meyer, AP)

Who brought the case?

The group Environmental Action Germany, known by its acronym DUH, has been filing legal complaints against cities for years, seeking to have them impose measures to reduce air pollution.

Lower court rulings involving two cities — Stuttgart and Duesseldorf — concluded that driving bans for diesel vehicles would be effective and should be considered. Two German states appealed the regional court rulings in Leipzig, arguing there needs to be a nationwide standard for dealing with air pollution.

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What happens next?

The Leipzig ruling gives cities sufficient legal certainty to impose diesel driving bans. Authorities now have several months to adjust their clean air plans accordingly. Some may choose to ban diesel cars only on certain roads at times when pollution levels are particularly high.

Judges say cities can exempt tradespeople who use diesel vehicles for work from the ban. However, they concluded that diesel owners have to accept a loss in value of their cars and aren't entitled to compensation from the government.

Sales of diesel cars and the value of second-hand models have already been hit by the VW emissions cheating scandal.

In an effort to avoid diesel bans, the German government recently proposed making public transportation free and physically upgrading old vehicles to reduce their emissions. Both options would cost billions of euros (dollars) and it's unclear who would pick up the tab — taxpayers, car owners or the auto industry.

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How many vehicles would be affected?

According to official figures, there are more than 15 million diesel cars registered in Germany. About 6 million of those meet the Euro 6 emissions standard that would likely be exempt from a driving ban, leaving some 9 million diesel cars affected by the verdict.

Additionally, there are several million trucks, buses and other heavy utility vehicles that run on diesel and which could be hit by a ban. City officials are particularly worried about the impact on bus services and tradespeople, who may get special exemptions allowing them to drive diesel vehicles even when a ban is in force.